Free at last | Metro Shuttle bus driver released as women’s families did not file case in fatal crash

By Rhoda Grace Saron on June 6, 2019

The Bus driver who was involved in the road collision that killed two women along Quimpo Boulevard last Friday was already released from police custody on Tuesday as the family declined to file charges against him.

“The bus driver was released because the family of the two women killed has not filed a case,” Lt.

Col. Nolan Raquid, the commander of the Davao City Police Office-Traffic Group, said
The two women were identified as Melody An Ybanez, 27, of Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal, Barangay Talomo Proper, Talomo District, and new college graduate, Janilou Faye Rosales, 21.

Rosales just finished her Medical Laboratory Science degree at San Pedro College, and they were celebrating right after her graduation on Thursday, few hours prior to the incident, the police said.

Ybanez was driving a Mazda Sedan with Rosales as passenger.

At 4 a.m. while traversing along Quimpo Boulevard going to MacArthur Highway, the car was allegedly traveling at high speeds. The sedan encroached on the opposite lane and collided head-on with the Metro Shuttle bus fronting City Hardware.

The two were declared dead on the spot by the medical response unit of 911 Emergency.

Two bus passengers, identified as Felipa Sarcuga and Jessica Badayos, sustained minor injuries from the incident.

The traffic group advised the people to follow speed limit and obey the traffic rules to avoid a repeat of the incident.

In an interview with reporters last week , Mayor Sara Duterte said the car driver and passenger were allegedly intoxicated with alcohol when the incident happened.

“What else can the city government do to push our police officers to apprehend over-speeding and drunk driving, and yet we can still see instances of car accidents and deaths because of drunk driving?” Duterte said.

“I hope the people would be reminded that if they are drunk, then they should not be driving a car,” the mayor said.